Envelope opener



June 15, 1954 I J MAYER 2,680,906

ENVELOPE OPENER Filed Oct. 31, 1949 FIG. 2

FIG. 3

If is f JNVENTOR. 4 4c 40 'LEONARD MAYER Patented June 15, 1954 UNITED STATES i OFFICE 2 Claims. 1

My invention relates to an envelope opener, more particularly for cutting open one end of a conventional letter envelope or the like, and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide an envelope opener of this class which employs conventional razor blade means for slitting envelopes, whereby they may be easily and precisely out along one side or end, through one thickness of said edge, so that the removal of the contents thereof may be readily facilitated;

Second, to provide an envelope opener of this class which is very precise and performs in a manner which provides a velopes, so that said envelopes may be preserved, if desired, without being unduly mutilated;

Third, to provide an envelope opener of this class having a sharp blade and an adjustable screw axially adjustable relative to said blade, having a head which maintains certain guiding control of envelopes passing through the opener, whereby they are forced to traverse the edge of said blade;

Fourth, to provide an envelope opener of this class having an envelope receiving slot therein, wherein a blade is fixed in interfering relation with said slot, so that precise control of the cutting of an envelope may be maintained, which may be accomplished very close to the edge of the envelope, so that the contents of the envelope are velope open with said opener;

Fifth, to provide an envelope opener of this class which may be used to open envelopes with c a minimum amount of part of the operator;

Sixth, to provide an envelope opener of this class which attains exceptionally uniform results in the cutting of the ends of envelopes near one edge, as desired;

Seventh, to provide an envelope opener of this class which is very compact in proportion to its function; and

Eighth, to provide an envelope opener of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, emcient in operation, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter set forth in detail and particularly described in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings effort and attention on the of reference refer to similar throughout the several views 2, blade retainer 3, guide 5, constitute the principal my envelope opener.

The frame I of my envelope opener is substantially rectangular, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and is provided with a slotted portion la therein, communicating with a blade-holding recess lb, in which the blade 2 is positioned, and held by a protruding rib is, which engages the normally slotted portion 2a of a conventional razor blade 2, which is provided with a sharp edge portion 2b, arranged in acute angular relationship to the slot la, all as shown best in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings.

The frame I is provided with dovetailed ways portions id with which the blade retainer 3 is slidably engaged. Beneath the blade retainer 3 is a pad 5, which engages the outer surface of the blade 2, and which is held by the blade retainer 3. The guide screw 4, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, is provided with a head portion 4a and a screw-threaded shank portion 42), which is internally screw-threaded within the frame I, beyond the slot la, with which the head portion 411, at its inner side 30, may be substantially flush, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The operation of my envelope opener is substantially as follows:

The edge of an envelope may be inserted in the slot la and engaged with the bottom portion le therein, substantially beyond the sharp edge 2?) of the blade 2, which regulates the distance the blade 2 cuts from the edge of the envelope. When the envelope has been placed in the slot Ia, against the lower portion le thereof, it is moved longitudinally of its edge, adjacent the bottom is of the slot Ia, past the edge of the blade 2, adjacent the head 4a of the guide screw 4, at its inner flat surface 30. Thus, the end or side edge of the envelope may be neatly cut through one thickness, as desired. Adjustment of the guide screw t longitudinally of its axis may be made to regulate the spaced relationship of the surface 4c of the head to: of the screw 4 relative to the cutting edge portion 21) of the blade 2, to leave one thickness of paper uncut. It is important to note that adjustment of said screw allows surface 40 to be retracted from said cutting edge 2b and away from coplanar relation with the adjacent envelope-guiding wall portion of the slot Ia, and this feature facilitates the severance of only a single thickness of the envelope.

It will be noted that the angular relationship of the cutting edge 2b of the blade 2 provides for gradual shearing action on the paper oi an envelope when forced past the blade 2 intermediate the head portion 4a of the guide screw i and said blade 2. It will be noted that the frame 1 maintains the blade 2 bottom of the recess lb by means of the protrusions If, which provide cutting clearance for the blade i relative to the bottom lb of the blade supporting recess in the frame 1.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an envelope opener, a frame having a recessed area in one face thereof, said frame having a slot adjacent one end extending normal to said recess, a part of said slot opening into one corner of said recessed area, a core in said frame having its axis normal to said slot, said bore having a relatively small threaded section on one side or said slot and a relatively larger screw head-accommodating enlargement in said frame on the other side of said slot, said enlargement opening into said recessed area, a blade in said recessed area having a cutting edge, one corner of said cutting edge extending into said slot, means for retaining said blade in fixed-position, a guide screw having a shank screwed into in spaced relationship from the said threaded section, a head on said screw having a flat inner surface in opposing and cooperative relationship with said one corner of said cutting edge for frictionally engaging and supporting articles being cut, whereby said fiat surface may be accurately adjusted relative to said cutting edge to cut through one thickness of paper.

2. In an envelope opener, a frame having a recessed area in one face thereof, said frame having a slot adjacent one end extending normal to said recess, a part of said slot opening into one corner of said recessed area, a bore in said frame having its axis normal to said slot, said bore having a relatively small threaded section on one side of said slot and a relatively larger screw head-accommodating enlargement in said frame on the other side of said slot, said enlargement opening into said recessed area, a blade in said recessed area having a cutting edge, one corner of said cutting edge extending into said slot, a blade retainer approximately equal in size to said recessed area and removably and resiliently posttioned in said recessed area to maintain said cutting blade in fixed position, a guide screw having a shank screwed into said threaded section, a head on said screw having a flat inner surface in opposing and cooperative relationship with said one corner of said cutting edge for frictionaliy engaging and supporting articles being cut, whereby said flat surface may be accuratelyradjusted relative to said cutting edge to cut through one thickness of paper.

References Cited. in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 393,880 Binkard w.-- Dec. 4, 1888 1,943,193 Stephan et a1 Jan. 9, 1934, 2,204,763 Maximilian June 18, 19% 2,247,719 Van Unen July 1, 1941 2,282,062 Jewett May 5, 1942 2,291,294 Holste July 28, 1942 2,388,695 Kriewaldt Nov. 13, 1945' 

